Breakthrough Manchester at The Derryfield School

The Path to College

The path to college begins simply with the words: "I want to go to college." This decision is made by all Breakthrough students as fifth graders, before they even apply to be a part of the program. The process of getting to college is not always easy. For many Breakthrough students, they will be the first generation in their family to attain a four-year college degree. Breakthrough provides seven years of programing, support, and academic counseling to students and their families so that they can achieve the dream of a college education.

Fifth Grade	Apply to Breakthrough Attend Six-Week Summer Session
Sixth Grade	Super Saturdays and/or School After School during the school year Attend Back To School Bash in October Required tutoring for students receiving below a C in any classes Optional tutoring for all students Tryout for sports teams or get involved with clubs at school Take SSAT in December Attend second Six-Week Summer Session
Seventh Grade	Super Saturdays and/or School After School during the school year Attend Back To School Bash in October Required tutoring for students receiving below a C in any classes Optional tutoring for all students Tryout for sports teams or get involved with clubs at school Take SSAT in December Summer Options: STAR Academy Apply to summer camps or summer opportunities Volunteer in the community
Eighth Grade	Eighth Grade Super Saturdays during the school year Required tutoring for students receiving below a C in any classes Optional tutoring for all students Take SSAT in December Required High School Planning Meeting in winter Enroll in Level 3 or Level 4 classes for ninth grade Alternatively, apply to parochial, independent, or boarding schools Attend Breakthrough Reunion in July and Winter Celebration in January Summer Options: STAR Academy Apply to summer camps or summer opportunities Volunteer in the community Find a meaningful job or internship
Ninth Grade	Be sure you are enrolled in college prep classes (Level 3 or 4) Get involved with sports, arts, and clubs at school Tutoring available for all students Consider applying to teach at Breakthrough Super Saturdays Take SSAT in December Required High School Options meeting in spring Attend Breakthrough Reunion in July and Winter Celebration in January Summer Options: Apply to summer camps or summer opportunities Volunteer in the community Find a meaningful job or internship
Tenth Grade	Be sure you are enrolled in college prep classes (Level 3 or 4) Get involved with sports, arts, and clubs at school Tutoring available for all students Teach at Breakthrough Super Saturdays Take SSAT in December Attend Breakthrough Reunion in July and Winter Celebration in January Summer Options: Teach at Breakthrough Volunteer in the community Find a meaningful job or internship Go on a Breakthrough college visit during the summer
Eleventh Grade	Be sure you are enrolled in college prep classes (Level 3 or 4); take A.P. or honors courses when possible Get involved with sports, arts, and clubs at school Tutoring available for all students Teach at Breakthrough Super Saturdays Attend Breakthrough's college and financial aid planning workshops Schedule a college planning meeting with Breakthrough staff Sign up for and take SATs and SAT IIs in the spring Attend Breakthrough Reunion in July and Winter Celebration in January Summer Options: Teach at Breakthrough Volunteer in the community Find a meaningful job or internship Apply for a travel program Go on a Breakthrough college visit during the summer Schedule a college planning meeting with Breakthrough staff
Twelfth Grade	Be sure you are enrolled in college prep classes (Level 3 or 4); take A.P. or honors courses when possible Get involved with sports, arts, and clubs at school Sign up for and take SATs and SAT IIs in the fall Tutoring available for all students Teach at Breakthrough Super Saturdays Attend Breakthrough's college and financial aid planning workshops Apply to college and wait for acceptance letters to roll in! Keep your grades up, even after you've been accepted to colleges. Attend Breakthrough Reunion in July and Winter Celebration in January Summer Options (save money for college expenses!): Teach at Breakthrough Find a meaningful job or internship Apply for a travel program

Jonathan, Hieu, and Selma sit on the steps at Harvard University's Widener Library on a field trip to Boston.